Hearing loss that occurs gradually as you age (presbycusis) is common. About 25 percent of people in the United States between the ages of 55 and 64 have some degree of hearing loss. For those older than 65, the number of people with some hearing loss is almost 1 in 2.

Aging and chronic exposure to loud noises are significant factors that contribute to hearing loss. Other factors, such as excessive earwax, can temporarily prevent your ears from conducting sounds as well as they should.

You can't reverse most types of hearing loss. However, you don't have to live in a world of muted, less distinct sounds. You and your doctor or a hearing specialist can take steps to improve what you hear.

Signs and symptoms of hearing loss may include:

Muffling of speech and other sounds

Difficulty understanding words, especially against background noise or in a crowd of people

Trouble hearing consonants

Frequently asking others to speak more slowly, clearly and loudly

Needing to turn up the volume of the television or radio

Withdrawal from conversations

Avoidance of some social settings

When to see a doctor

If you have a sudden loss of hearing, particularly in one ear, seek immediate medical attention.

Talk to your doctor if difficulty hearing is interfering with your daily life. Your hearing may have deteriorated if:

You find that it's harder to understand everything that's said in conversation, especially when there's background noise

Sounds seem muffled

You find yourself having to turn the volume higher when you listen to music, the radio or television

Some causes of hearing loss include damage to the inner ear, a buildup of earwax, infections and a ruptured eardrum. To understand how hearing loss occurs, it can be helpful to understand how you hear.

How you hear

Your ear consists of three major areas: outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. Sound waves pass through the outer ear and cause vibrations at the eardrum. The eardrum and three small bones of the middle ear amplify the vibrations as they travel to the inner ear. There, the vibrations pass through fluid in a snail-shaped structure in the inner ear (cochlea).

Attached to nerve cells in the cochlea are thousands of tiny hairs that help translate sound vibrations into electrical signals that are transmitted to your brain. The vibrations of different sounds affect these tiny hairs in different ways, causing the nerve cells to send different signals to your brain. That's how you distinguish one sound from another.

How hearing loss can occur

Causes of hearing loss include:

Damage to the inner ear. Aging and exposure to loud noise may cause wear and tear on the hairs or nerve cells in the cochlea that send sound signals to the brain. When these hairs or nerve cells are damaged or missing, electrical signals aren't transmitted as efficiently, and hearing loss occurs. Higher pitched tones may become muffled to you.

It may become difficult for you to pick out words against background noise. Heredity may make you more prone to these changes. This type of hearing loss is known as sensorineural hearing loss, which is permanent.

A gradual buildup of earwax. Earwax can block the ear canal and prevent conduction of sound waves. This can be restored with earwax removal.

Ear infection and abnormal bone growths or tumors. In the outer or middle ear, any of these can cause hearing loss.

Loud noise. Exposure to loud sounds can damage the cells of your inner ear. Damage can occur with long-term exposure to loud noises, or from a short blast of noise, such as from a gunshot.

Heredity. Your genetic makeup may make you more susceptible to ear damage from sound or deterioration from aging.

Occupational noises. Jobs where loud noise is a regular part of the working environment, such as farming, construction or factory work, can lead to damage inside your ear.

Recreational noises. Exposure to explosive noises, such as from firearms and jet engines, can cause immediate, permanent hearing loss. Other recreational activities with dangerously high noise levels include snowmobiling, motorcycling or listening to loud music.

Some medications. Drugs, such as the antibiotic gentamicin and certain chemotherapy drugs, can damage the inner ear. Temporary effects on your hearing — ringing in the ear (tinnitus) or hearing loss — can occur if you take very high doses of aspirin, other pain relievers, antimalarial drugs or loop diuretics.

Some illnesses. Diseases or illnesses that result in high fever, such as meningitis, may damage the cochlea

Comparing loudness of common sounds

What kind of decibel levels are you exposed to during a typical day? To give you an idea, compare noises around you to these specific sounds and their corresponding decibel levels:

Sound levels of common noises

Decibels

Noise source

BASED ON THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS, 2010, AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH, 2013

Safe range

30

Whisper

60

Normal conversation

78

Washing machine

Risk range

80 to 90

Heavy city traffic, power lawn mower

90

Motorcycle

100

Snowmobile, hand drill

110

Chain saw, rock concert

Injury range

120

Ambulance siren

140 (pain threshold)

Jet engine at takeoff

165

12-guage shotgun blast

180

Rocket launch

Maximum sound-exposure durations

Below are the maximum noise levels on the job to which you may be exposed without hearing protection, and for how long.

Maximum job-noise exposure allowed by law

Sound level, decibels

Duration, daily

BASED ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, 2008

90

8 hours

92

6 hours

95

4 hours

97

3 hours

100

2 hours

102

1.5 hours

105

1 hour

110

30 minutes

115

15 minutes or less

Hearing loss can have a significant effect on your quality of life. Among older adults with hearing loss, commonly reported problems include:

Depression

Anxiety

An often false sense that others are angry with you

Unfortunately, most people affected by hearing loss live with these difficulties for years before seeking treatment — or never seek treatment at all. This may also cause lasting problems for those who love you, if you try to cope by denying your hearing loss or withdrawing from social interactions.

If you suspect you may have hearing loss, call your doctor. After an initial evaluation, your doctor may refer you to a hearing specialist (audiologist).

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment and to know what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

List any symptoms you're experiencing, and for how long. Is the hearing loss in one ear or both? Ask your loved ones to help you make the list. Friends and family may have noticed changes that aren't obvious to you, but they may be important for your doctor to know.

Write down key medical information, especially related to any problems you've had with your ears. Your doctor will want to know about chronic infections, injury to your ear or previous ear surgery. Also list any medications, vitamins or supplements you're taking.

Summarize your work history, including any jobs, even those in the distant past, that exposed you to high noise levels.

Take a family member or friend along. Someone who accompanies you can help you remember all of the information the doctor provides.

Write down questions to ask your doctor. Having a list of questions in advance can help you make the most of your time with your doctor.

For hearing loss, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?

Other than the most likely cause, what else might be causing my symptoms?

What tests do you recommend?

Should I stop taking any of my current medications?

Should I see a specialist?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, including:

How would you describe your symptoms? Do you have pain in the affected ear?

Did your symptoms come on suddenly?

Do you have ringing, roaring or hissing in your ears?

Do your symptoms include dizziness or balance problems?

Do you have a history of ear infections, ear trauma or ear surgery?

Have you ever worked in a job that exposed you to loud noise, flown airplanes or been in combat in the military?

Does your family complain that you turn up the volume of the television or radio too high?

Do you have trouble understanding someone who is talking to you in a low voice?

Do you have trouble understanding someone who is speaking to you on the telephone?

Do you frequently need to ask others to speak up or repeat themselves during conversation? Does this happen more frequently in a noisy setting, such as a crowded restaurant?

Can you hear a coin hitting the floor or a door closing?

Can you hear when someone approaches you from behind?

If your hearing is impaired, does it bother you or affect your quality of life?

Would you be willing to use a hearing aid if needed?

Tests to diagnose hearing loss may include:

Physical exam. Your doctor will look in your ear for possible causes of your hearing loss, such as earwax or inflammation from an infection. Your doctor will also look for any structural causes of your hearing problems.

General screening tests. Your doctor may ask you to cover one ear at a time to see how well you hear words spoken at various volumes and how you respond to other sounds.

Audiometer tests. During these more-thorough tests conducted by an audiologist, you wear earphones and hear sounds directed to one ear at a time. The audiologist presents a range of sounds of various tones and asks you to indicate each time you hear the sound.

Each tone is repeated at faint levels to find out when you can barely hear. The audiologist will also present various words to determine your hearing ability.

If you have hearing problems, help is available. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of your hearing loss.

Options include:

Removing wax blockage. Earwax blockage is a reversible cause of hearing loss. Your doctor may remove earwax by loosening it with oil and then flushing, scooping or suctioning out the softened wax.

Surgical procedures. Surgery may be necessary if you've had a traumatic ear injury or repeated infections that require the insertion of small tubes that help the ears drain.

Hearing aids. If your hearing loss is due to damage to your inner ear, a hearing aid can help by making sounds stronger and easier for you to hear. An audiologist can discuss with you the potential benefits of using a hearing aid, recommend a device and fit you with it.

Cochlear implants. If you have severe hearing loss, a cochlear implant may be an option for you. Unlike a hearing aid that amplifies sound and directs it into your ear canal, a cochlear implant compensates for damaged or nonworking parts of your inner ear. If you're considering a cochlear implant, your audiologist, along with a medical doctor who specializes in disorders of the ears, nose and throat (ENT), can discuss the risks and benefits with you.

Benefits of treatment

Getting treatment can improve your quality of life dramatically. People who use hearing aids report these benefits:

Greater self-confidence

Closer relationships with loved ones

Improved outlook on life, overall

Less depression

These tips can help you to communicate more easily despite your hearing loss:

Position yourself to hear. Face the person with whom you're having a conversation.

Turn off background noise. For example, noise from a television may interfere with conversation.

Ask others to speak clearly. Most people will be helpful if they know you're having trouble hearing them.

Choose quiet settings. In public, such as in a restaurant or at a social gathering, choose a place to talk that's away from noisy areas.

Consider using an assistive listening device. Hearing devices, such as TV-listening systems or telephone-amplifying devices, can help you hear better while decreasing other noises around you. Telephone service over the Internet — known as Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) — transmits more frequencies from human speech than does standard telephone service, which may make it easier to hear during phone calls.

Hearing loss prevention consists of steps you can take to help you prevent noise-induced hearing loss and avoid worsening of age-related hearing loss:

Protect your ears in the workplace. Specially designed earmuffs that resemble earphones can protect your ears by bringing most loud sounds down to an acceptable level. Foam, pre-formed or custom-molded earplugs made of plastic or rubber also can help protect your ears from damaging noise.

Have your hearing tested. Consider regular hearing tests if you work in a noisy environment. Regular testing of your hearing can provide early detection of hearing loss. Knowing you've lost some hearing means you're in a position to take steps to prevent further hearing loss.

Avoid recreational risks. Some activities, such as riding a snowmobile, hunting or listening to rock concerts for long periods of time, can damage your hearing. Wearing hearing protectors or taking breaks from the noise during loud recreational activities can protect your ears. Turning down the volume when listening to music can help you avoid damage to your hearing.

Expertise. Mayo Clinic specializes in treating difficult cases of hearing loss. Each Mayo Clinic location has ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists (otolaryngologists) and audiologists experienced in treating hearing disorders of all kinds. Mayo has sophisticated diagnostic tools and can offer you virtually every treatment option.

Experience. Mayo Clinic doctors treat large numbers of people and are skilled at performing less common procedures such as surgery for acoustic neuromas or cochlear implants. Each year, Mayo Clinic doctors treat nearly 21,000 people with some form of hearing loss.

Latest technology. Mayo uses the latest technology to accurately diagnose and treat your problem. Mayo Clinic offers a wide selection of hearing aids, many of which are compatible with the latest Bluetooth devices, such as cellphones and other listening devices.

Time for you. Doctors at Mayo take time to listen to your problem, explain your options and answer your questions.

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people. In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

Specialists in otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose and throat or ENT) and audiology at Mayo Clinic have extensive experience treating hearing disorders in adults. Specialized evaluations of balance disorders are accomplished with a state-of-the-art vestibular laboratory and a balance and dizziness disorders team.

For appointments or more information, call the Central Appointment Office at 800-446-2279 (toll-free) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Monday through Friday or complete an online appointment request form.

Reprint Permissions

A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.